New Method of Depositing the Nanostructured Amorphous Carbon for Carbon Based Solar Cell Applications

Abstract EN

Nanostructured amorphous carbon (a-C) solar cells were successfully deposited via a self-designed aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD).

The fabricated solar cell with the configuration of Au/p-C/n-Si/Au achieved efficiency (η) of 1.72×10-4% for device deposited at 500°C, 1.24×10-4% for 450°C, and 0.03×10-4% for 400°C.

Photoresponse characteristic was highlighted under illumination (AM 1.5 illuminations: 100 mW/cm2, 25°C), where conductivity increased when the sample was being hit by light.

Transmittance spectrum exhibits a large transmittance value (>85%) and absorption coefficient value of 104 cm−1 at the visible range from 390 to 790 nm.

The nanostructured a-C thin film deposited at higher temperature possesses lower transmittance due to higher absorption as a result of the higher content of sp2-bonded carbon atoms.

From Tauc’s plot, optical band gap (Eg) was determined, and Eg decreased as deposition temperature increased (1.2 eV, 1.0 eV, 0.7 eV).

On the other hand, FESEM images exhibited a nanostructured sized a-C with the particle size less than 100 nm.

To the best of our knowledge, the presence of nanostructured particle of a-C by a self-prepared AACVD has not frequently been reported.